Stillwater
Stillwater Playspots(Gilman's, Typewriter, Trestle)
May 25, 2014
Trip Report
| Reporter | Peter Buehner |
Gillman Falls: construction here a few years ago has made this spot only good in early spring when the levels are high. Very quickly the hole becomes too shallow.
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Typewriter and Elbow on the Stillwater: You can see these rapids directly below the bridge. (take exit 193 toward Old Town). You can park in two spots: 1. take a right onto college Ave. after the bridge. Before reaching UMaine, there is a small yellow sided building owned by the water works. There is an island on the Stillwater that you can see through the trees. Just at the end of that island is when to look for this little building. Park here, hike down to the river and paddle back upstream. 2: before the bridge take the last right onto Free Street before hitting the bridge (just before a little restaurant at the bridge. Take the next left and park right by the dam. A small trail leads to a put in. Paddle out and left and follow your nose and ears to the rapid.
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Construction at the damn has changed the Typewriter. At high levels it is a complete wash. Once the Enfield gauge drops to about 30000, a wave hole starts to form in the center of the main flow but you need to wait until below 26000 for eddy service to develop and the hole becomes more retentive. The edddy is player's left and takes a bit of work to attain at the higher levels. At about 24,000 there is a small wave that forms below the main hole and just off the player's right eddy. With good technique you can front and back surf, loop without staying in, or get a cartwheel or two.
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The Elbow (channel to wide river left) is a lower level spot for beginners to learn to ferry, maybe surf, and get boat control (class I/II). I don't know how the construction has changed that side but my guess is don't even bother until the main channel is getting bony.